The Cozy Up to Crime storybundle is still going strong! Here’s the next interview from Sonia Orin Lyris, and her book, “The Wayward Ring”.
Why are you attracted to writing cozy? What’s special to you about the genre?
There’s so much power in how people connect with each other. I find that the Cozy genre makes this possible to explore in a new way.
My first published novel, AND PEACE SHALL SLEEP, a Magic the Gathering tale, has action and adventure, politics, and a bit of romance. My epic fantasy novel THE SEER is immersive fantasy, also with action and adventure, politics, and — a bit of romance.
Good stories, if I do say so myself. Intense and full of battles.
These days I write cozier. Lighter. I have come to understand that long-term power resides in how people come together to build trust and collaborate, rather than in force.
Don’t get me wrong; I like my fantasy realistic. I don’t sugarcoat life’s challenges in my stories.
But how we take those challenges on — together or alone, with force or with kindness — can make all the difference in how we succeed or fail.
What was one of the most surprising things you’ve learned while writing cozy?
I learned that my characters don’t need to be watered down or simplified in any way. They can act powerfully and engage with real stakes.
For me, the Cozy approach is about taking the time to focus on the humanity of experience. I’ve learned that in life the gentle approach can sink in deeper and faster than force. And that’s true of stories, too.
What do you love most about the story or novel that’s in this story bundle?
This story, THE WAYWARD RING, is the second book in the WITCHES OF MARIGOLD series. I also have shorter works in the same universe, with the same main character, Susanne “Sanne” Pascral, our small-town witch.
What I love is how Sanne keeps engaging with problems with openness and curiosity. I love how, despite her expertise, she asks questions instead of leaping to answers. It’s inspiring.
What are you working on right now, and what’s coming out next?
I’m writing the first scenes of a new tale in my BIG TOP (or “Wanderlost”) universe.
Big Top is a starship, and the stories explore a far future galactic civilization in which war is considered a poor way to behave, and species tend to work together for each other’s benefit.
A heck of a challenge to make this plausible, given where I see Humanity now. A challenge I want to take on.
What’s coming out next: a short story for Boundary Shock Quarterly #31, an issue that does something pretty unusual: walks across the line seperating Science Fiction and Fantasy. I’m delighted to be included with my story “Portrait of a King,” in which an artist and a king take a trip together and disagree about the purpose of art.
Where can people find you and more of your work?
The WITCHES OF MARIGOLD series is here:
BIG TOP / WANDERLOST stories are here:
THE SEER SAGA is here: https://lyris.org/seer/
And you’ll find the storybundle here: https://www.storybundle.com/crime
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